The night was silent. No sign of breathing as if it was lifeless, even the wind wouldn't want to pay a visit. Yet, inside one of the rooms, a dimmed light was visible. A middle aged man was holding an ink brush with a huge paper book sitting on the table. The room only source of light was two candles on each of the table corner.
He was frowning, reflecting on his thought and recollecting the pieces of his memories. The man's facial expression was not really good. Each of his eye contain big black eye bags. His clothes looked shabby as if he hadn't changed them for days. There were books, notes and written paper scattered on the floor. Not sure if they were written or referenced by him. Alas, he had spent a lot of his time with them, until lost track of the time.
Fuck! Where should I begin with?
With one strong exhale, he start writing again. His hadwriting was remarkable. Once the brush touched the white paper, it generated beautiful calligraphies.
This report is written by Chen WenJin, the 1st officer from 起居注官 (Qǐjūzhù Guān).
The year 749, the month of apricot (杏月; xìngyuè), the 5th day (戊辰 Wù-Chén) of the earth dragon.
I was presented before the Emperor Fu Ling, the 5th emperor of Great Gifu. That day, The Majesty's complexion was not good at all. His face was pale, sweat was drenching from his temple, even though the day was not hot.
He seemed agitated about something. Ever since I came to his room, he did not stop wandering around. He did not say anything to me, only a few words to the head eunuch, Li gonggong. He repeated the same questions every 10 minutes, "Where the fuck is him?" Or "Has he been here already?"
And each time, the answers were the same, "This servant apologizes, Your Majesty. That man is nowhere to be seen."
I did not know who the one that The Majesty expected, but judging from The Majesty's demeanor, he must have been an important figure. In the middle of the room, just across The Majesty's study desk, a big dinner table with all kind of Louyang delicacies on it was set.
I did not know what had been in The Majesty's mind lately. But everytime I saw him, he got weaker each day. This servant was truly worried about his health.
After a while, a head eunuch came to The Majesty, whispering something to his right ear. The Majesty's face was lifted with a joy as he shouted, "Bring him to me right away..." The head eunuch proptly heading outside, welcoming someone to enter The Majesty's chamber.
A figure of man came in immediately. I was sure he was a male, whilst his face was covered by half face mask that made from copper. He wore a black robe with a hood. His right hand was holding an exquisite sword. The scabbard was pitch black fine leather imprinting with pure gold patterns. Perhaps, it was a heirloom. I truly never saw such sword or I was simply short knowledgeable about weapon.
Before kneeing down to greet The Majesty, he looked briefly at me. For a moment, I met up with his onyx eyes. Those eyes exuded such aura which made me shiver. Those were not eyes of man.
When I was about to pardon myself, The Majesty seemed to notice. He gave me signal to stay and observe conscientiously. And I stood on my spot, behind The Majesty's desk with my back slightly bend to honour The Majesty.
"Ashile, I hope you wouldn't mind the court diarist. Everything happen here has to be recorded for the next generation to learn from." The Majesty said with soft tone.
"Your Majesty, I do not mind at all. I've been thinking that you invited me here to talk about something confidential." The man replied casually.
I wrung my eyebrows. Who was this man? Why did he speak to The Majesty with such tone? It's impudent. His voice hinted it was a young man.
What an immoral! How do his parents not teach this young man an ethic?
To my surprise, The Majesty was laughing. It was the first laugh in the weeks. Being so long beside The Majesty, I had never seen him laughing this freely.
"Ashile, you do not change at all - still a snorty brat! That Lin Jing surely teach you well. I can see him through you." The Majesty patted on his shoulders.
"Stop it, old man. Just tell me what is your business with me? I will not waste a thousand li journey only to reminiscing the past."
"Of course not. But a long friend should be greeted. Have a seat. I have prepared the best wine in Louyang." The Majesty welcomed him and even poured him a wine. "I have even prepared your favourite dishs."
The man chuckled. He put his sword onto his belt then put out something from his robe, "Lay down your act. I will not be here if it is not because of this Qilin seal."
It was a black jade with a Qilin dragon roaring up to the sky imprinting on it. The jade was a very rare one. Even in my life I had never encountered one before. Upon showing that seal, the man gaze landed on me. As if that I shoudn't have been there.
I was nervous. "It's all right. I trust Wen Jin. The record he is writing will not shown to me nor this generation, but for the future emperor to learn from my mistake and my ideology." The Majesty said in a cold tone. I could feel his tone was full of desperate and regret.
"You should be. What a good emperor you are!" The man scoffed. He wandered around, walking toward The Majesty's desk and put the seal on the desk. His hand looked sturdy and rough, definitely a hand of someone who had yielded weapon his whole life. Such a young man was impossible to have that kind of hand.
"We fight for you, for the throne... and then?" The man's cold tone was trembling, "you betrayed us... betrayed Yang Jun's trust."
The name 'Yang Jun' flashed on my mind. He was with the household of Yang, who holded the power in ministry. A very powerful household in the court, and yet in one night, the whole family was executed for treason. It was 15 years ago incident.
Why did this man mention that name? Since then, the name was taboo in the imperial court. That name alone could ignite The Majesty's rage.
I stole a glace at The Majesty. He was silent. He grappled his fists and slammed the table. It was so hard that the wine spilled all over.
"Yang Jun... a... Yang Jun..." The Majesty took another bottle of wine, opened the cap and drank it up in a gulp. He slammed over the table. Some eunuch barged in from outside and the head eunuch ran closer to The Majesty. In one hand gesture, he chased all of them away.
Those people dared not to obey. They retreated outside. In an instant, the room only contained three of us. The Majesty began to weap, crying out 'Yang Jun' name. The masked man stood there looking down at The Majesty.
"You do not have any right to call that name." He continued in a cold tone.
"I know... I know... he must have despised me from the other world. I have failed him..."
"Four friends took the vow under the peach trees on Yashan valley. They exchanged wine with laughter and smile. They shared the same ideology and vision. They were young and afraid of nothing. I, Fu Ling, from the imperial bloodline. Yang Jun, the smartass of Yang clan. Lin Jing, the merchant lord of Qing. Asshan, the northern tribe of barbarian, and Ashile Sun...." The Majesty halted to look at that masked man.
He walked closer to that man, reaching out his black robe. He groped it tightly, facing that man directly. "Out of the four, Lin Jing had long passed away... Asshen died on battlefield... and Yang Jun... He too disappeared from me. He left me... left me alone... and I can't even mourn for him."
The man just stood there, saying nothing. His expression was hid perfectly behind his mask. The Majesty knocked on the man's sturdy chest. "And now, it is left with me and you..." He reached the man's mask, carefully took out that bronze mask, revealing a face behind it.
"You did not change at all, Ashile Sun - Still young and handsome, like those youth days. Fifty years has passed and this face is still the same I remembered." he smiled bitterly.
Seeing the owner of the mask's bareface, I was so shocked. I knew that face. I knew who exactly he was.
The middle aged man's hands were trembling from fear. He used his left hand to support the right one, urging himself to keep writing to the end.
That man was the infamous Ghost General.
Glossary
1. 起居注官 (Qǐjūzhù Guān) : Court Diarist" or "Imperial Diary Official"
- Their primary duty was to keep a daily record (起居注, Qǐjūzhù) of the emperor's words, actions, and court affairs.
2. The calendar in the story follow the ancient Yinyang calendar of ancient chinese calendar.